Computational Analysis of Semantic Change Across Different Environments

This network aims to train early-stage researchers to develop and apply innovative methodologies for Computational Analysis of Semantic Change Across Different Environments (CASCADE), i.e. to identify, analyse and interrogate how meaning is expressed in language in diverse contexts, with a shared focus on the impact of time (diachronic text analytics).

CASCADE responds to a skills deficit within the academic, public and commercial sectors: the need for people able to retrieve, critically evaluate and make better use of the large volumes of textual data that characterise our contemporary information society (the ‘data deluge’). The consortium is a collaboration of some of Europe’s world-leading universities and companies from the United Kingdom, Belgium, Finland, Ireland, and Germany.

The overall training approach will consist of beneficiaries 'matching up' to host and support 10 individual research projects, in addition to 10 secondments, and reinforced by a programme of network-wide Training Camps and Research Conventions. The key deliverables from each research project, in addition to the anticipated doctoral theses for ESRs 1 to 10, will include 12 co-authored articles for experts, Wikipedia articles for a general audience, and new software and algorithms.

The network's unique selling point for potential researchers is its emphasis on computational linguistics and humanities scholarship as skills that bring value and competitive edge to organisations concerned with semantically-aware information retrieval. These organisations might be academic or commercial, involved in early stage R&D (methods development) or early adoption of new methods (methods application).